BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: Ed T
Date: 14 May 10 - 07:22 PM

Your car has a computer controlled engine management system. A auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error codes. The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components.

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 14 May 10 - 07:07 PM

My experience with fuel injected engines is limited to flying light aircraft fitted with them. Some of them could be notoriously difficult to start when hot due to vapour locks developing in the fuel system. One solution was to run the fuel pump for a while to purge the system with cooler fuel. Unfortunately a switchable pump is not an option we have on cars.

Not being familiar with your car - is your fuel pump electrically driven? If so, if you turn the ignition on without cranking the starter can you hear the pump run? If so I guess you could try letting it run for a little while before attempting to start.

That doesn't address why it should only happen on short runs and not after long ones. Maybe there's a problem with a thermostat too?

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 May 10 - 07:07 PM

I think it might be a problem with the automatic choke. Unless it doesn't have them. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: Janie
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:51 PM

One thing is for sure, Spaw always has ideas:>)

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:13 PM

Spaw might..he used to work on the best of Brit and other cars.

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: mousethief
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:03 PM

Okay I posted it to their site -- we'll see if that works!

Meanwhile does anybody here have any ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 May 10 - 05:55 PM

This sounds like a question for Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers.

Subject: BS: Car problem - any mechanics out there?
From: mousethief
Date: 14 May 10 - 05:37 PM

Okay, this is an automotive question. I hope this is the right place for it.

We have a 1996 Honda Civic, fuel injection, 175k miles. It has been running like a top since we bought it (at 100k miles) but now it has developed a peculiar glitch.

If I start it in the morning and drive to the grocery store, it won't restart when I leave the store. It will crank and crank and crank -- no end of battery. But it doesn't fire. The store is about 1.5 miles from home, the streets are all 25mph which I usually drive at 20.

However if I drive it at high speeds for a few miles, not even very many more, it re-starts fine. If you allow it to cool all the way down, it starts fine. If you only drive a couple of blocks, turn it off, wait a short bit, then try to restart it, it starts fine.

It seems like the problem is if it heats up a little bit, but not all the way.

I took it to the new dealer in town (since my favourite mechanic died and his successors had their shop closed when they were caught running drugs), and they had it a week and couldn't find what was wrong. They did charge me to clean out carbon deposits from the head ($250) and replace the coil ($250) but that didn't fix it. They checked the cranking power of the battery and it had 380 cold cranking amps (I think that's the number they said) and they said that was certainly not the problem.

I got it back from them, unfixed, and am just making sure I get it out on the highway any trip I'm on (it's a slight detour from the grocery store but not much more than a mile or two more).

Does anybody have any idea what could be causing this?